Tips for staying on top of your schedule

Between lectures, social events, and adjusting to independent living, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with managing your time across all of your different commitments.

We're here to give you our advice so you can stay on top of your schedule and make the most of your first year. 

Get organised early

Use a planner or calendar app to track your timetable, deadlines, and events. Leeds Uni offers tools like Minerva and Office365 calendars which can be used to visualise your time and see where busier and quieter periods are.

Planning ahead helps you avoid last-minute stress and gives you more time to enjoy uni life by understanding how your commitments are scheduled across different weeks and months.

Break tasks into chunks

Assignments and revision can feel huge at first and they can quickly become stressful as you may have deadlines back-to-back. Try to start on them earlier by breaking your tasks into smaller steps and spread them out over time.

For example, instead of having a task which says “write essay,” try “research topic,” “create outline,” and “write intro.” It makes things feel more doable and you can fit this into your daily routine much easier than needing to commit full days closer to the deadlines to completing your work. 

Set priorities

Not everything needs to be done right away so learn to spot what’s urgent and what can wait.

Focus on tasks that affect your grades or wellbeing first, and don’t be afraid to say no to things that drain your time or energy. 

A great way to decide what deserves your attention is the Eisenhower Matrix, which helps you sort tasks into four categories:

• Urgent and Important – Do these first (e.g. an assignment due tomorrow).
• Important but Not Urgent – Schedule these (e.g. long-term revision or career planning).
• Urgent but Not Important – Delegate or limit time on these (e.g. group chats or admin tasks).
• Neither Urgent nor Important – Avoid or postpone these (e.g. endless scrolling on social media).

This method helps you focus on what truly matters and avoid wasting time on distractions. It’s a simple tool that can make a big difference in how you manage your day.

Use your university support network

The Skills@Library team and your Personal Tutors are great sources of support.

If you’re struggling with time management or anything else, reach out. You’re not alone and they will be happy to help support you in building time management skills you can use through your degree and through life. 

Utilise Assistive Technology 

The University has a range of assistive technology resources available, which you may find useful to support time management. This can include: 

• Transcription services

• Mind mapping software

• Accessibility tools for Minerva

• Text to speech tools 

and much more!

To get started, email Thomas Starkey, Assistive Technology Advisor: t.m.starkey@leeds.ac.uk who can help you with this process. 

Make time for breaks

Studying non-stop unsustainable and breaks help your brain recharge and improve your concentration. 

Use techniques like the Pomodoro method (25 minutes work, 5 minutes break) to stay focused without burning out and use tip number 3 to manage your workload earlier so you can do smaller chunks more frequently, rather than spending weekends living in the Library near the end of term. 

Look after yourself

Good time management includes time for you. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep, eating well, and staying active. When you feel good, everything else becomes easier to manage.